Wolverinebass

In about 2001 I was looking for a bass to take the step up to a better instrument as I'd moved to London. Something striking. A bit mad. Ironically, those last 2 things have informed my bass choices ever since. I immediately thought about the Auerswald. I got quoted at £17k when I emailed about it. No discussion of specs or anything. Just a flat price. I bought an Alembic at the Bass Centre instead, which ironically was cheaper. Now, that Auerswald bass hasn't even been listed on the website for years and quite frankly, I'd still buy one, but I shudder to think how much it might be now. Surely someone must do a knockoff AliExpress or whatever version?

Yeah. The mids if used in the upper third are outrageous in how brutal that switch is. It really is proper chainsaw through a megaphone time. I used to use it as a solo boost from time to time just for fun. I would imagine you'll have fun playing it with a Mesa! It's a very different thing to a "normal" bass, but once one understands why it is as it is and lean into it, you'll discover things about your playing you'd never really heard or tried to do before. Plus, it'll probably make you laugh a lot with all the stuff you'll be able to do with it.

Congratulations @Beedster! Superb! It's one of those basses that no matter what you thought you like beforehand, you end up liking it regardless. I've on occasion had people round to the studio and no matter who they are or how dyed in the wool they are of a "precision with flats" kind of person, every single one of them without fail has had a grin so wide after playing my Buzzard you would have thought that they just found out they won the lottery. Does it look mad? Yes. Does it work ergonomically? Also yes. Does it sound amazing? Yes. I've played a couple of B2's and they're really, really good. Both versions are instruments that inspire one to play better and invariably you do because of it. I favour an action so low as @Cosmo Valdemar says that a lot of people can't believe it's possible to set up a bass like that and have it still playable. @LeftyJ about the mid range. The 300 series boards do a cut/boost between 300Hz and 3Khz. The Buzzard does boost only between 200Hz and 10kHz. It could be argued the 300 board is more flexible, but of course that's not what the buzzard is meant to be. It's meant to be the most aggressive cutting bass ever made, and it is. You can in effect use the mid range as a treble/presence boost as the treble is localised at 7kHz. Or you can use it as a kind of wah effect by using the lower portion of it. The mid range control on the Chris Wolstenholme basses is different in that the boost can be tailored in terms of level. The buzzard is a fixed 10dB boost as is the 300 series boards. It's 3 batteries as it's an 18V circuit and one for the LEDs. The back switch turns them on/off. The other switch does the mid range boost.

I think you just have to be realistic about what bands you want to do, what bands would take you on and how much of it is about. I'd imagine you'd do better than I ever would playing covers. About 15 years ago, I posted a somewhat ranty post about why I felt bands were looking for someone who would just sit back constantly. Chris B gave me the best advice I've probably ever had "maybe you're just going for the wrong bands?" It took a good 2 years after that for me to find the right fit. I don't regret the time. Now, as I'm 45, quite a few of those types of bands are closed off to me and although I don't look my age, I accept it's a criteria for some people. I won't lie about it. That being said, the 2 bands I'm in now (both originals) value my playing and insanely off he wall humour. They're lovely, talented people who I'm privileged to call my friends. If they ask how old you are, just say and ask if it's a problem. If they're not specifying an age range, it probably won't be. I doubt you'll be going for bands that have to be signed at all costs, so I'd be surprised if it matters. You'll get something. Just be clear in your own head what you want from it and it'll turn up eventually.

Fixed, my dear boy.

I did indeed notice that Kev. Just as well really! We both know it's a slippery slope though. First you're announcing sparkly colours, the next you're trying to suggest a bass which looks like a crushed piece of rocky road cake and saying it's "technological wizardry greater than sending the first human being to Mars." Before you know what's happened, you've went full robo-tuners and you've went bankrupt. It's a tightrope. Or you could just crank out another slightly different precision. I wonder who will announce their new sunburst finish before the end of the week? Maybe all manufacturers have a calendar and they all do it in the same week? I'll get the popcorn ready as this is going to be high octane entertainment.

Meanwhile, Ernie Ball prove they have mastered innovation "with 6 new finish colours." https://www.facebook.com/share/gvMW8ACSygqzjzQJ/ I await the autumn colour collection from other manufacturers soon. Possibly in association with Kevin McCloud, Dulux or Crown.

I'd be getting the Dug Pinnick Schecter long before that one. One the other hand, I already have a Hamer, so I don't need one.

To be fair Kev, I was just making the point that they haven't changed much and that when they have, it hasn't sold so well. Rick's 4004 doesn't sell that well does it. Certainly not in comparison to the 4003. In the Ernie Ball case, I would say that the pricing is what I'd take issue with. Almost 3 grand for a Stingray? Is that not dragging the fan base a bit for a few new colours? Maybe you could argue the Darkray was innovative, (it certainly was interesting as a concept) but when I tried one I was sad that I didn't like it and I really thought I would. I've played a few older and newer ones. I wouldn't say there was a massively huge difference, but there is a difference. I would say I'd get a newer one if they went back to the 43mm nut actually. I really liked the 2019 Stingray Special HH actually and I've played a couple since then too. We all like what we like. Or not as the case may be.

I think there is going to be a lot of disappointment if folk are expecting much other than different paint colours. It's not like Fender are ever going to do anything like say a complete one piece graphite moulded precision are they? Or something really radically different. For all those saying that Fender are just resting on previous accomplishments, I would ask what are Ernie Ball and Rickenbacker doing then? Ploughing a trough in the realms of futurism? Of course not. They're just doing exactly the same thing. Different colours and inflating the price. Maybe Ernie Ball most egregiously I might add. It seems to be that innovation for those companies won't ever work commercially, which is a shame as I'm sure they're perfectly capable of it. People want what they want and it doesn't seem to change much in that regard for the majority of bass players.

I read a really good scientific paper about this a few months ago. It was about the pressures on the "instagram guitarist." The short version was, if you post a video which is flawless, you're miming and it's been edited within an inch of it's life. If you play it live and it's not millimetrically bang on, you're crap and playing the instrument like a a tool. Altogether, a lose-lose situation. Frankly, what puts me off him and loads of others like him is that wobbly thing they do with their fretting hand when theyre not even bending the note and the bobble head and ludicrous gurning. See Janek Gwizdala and Phil Mann for other notable examples of this. That's only a presentational comment. He's a very talented chap regardless.

After 4 years of this thread, it does seem that nobody is going to do anything legally to stop him. That's amazing isn't it? Should we all take up scamming as a "side hustle" knowing that if we keep it low tech and under a certain value we'll be fine and nobody will arrest us? I still can't believe that he's not been assaulted by someone he's done over. Surely, (at least statistically speaking) he has rode his luck somewhat and the more he does this the more likely it is to happen by ripping off exactly the wrong person at the wrong time.

I'm sure I've seen threads with @Passinwind making custom amps.

I must agree Kev. I think it's just that (allegedly) us bass players are a tolerant lot he's got away with it. That and the fact the Cops are ludicrously overstretched like all public services. Statistically though, I'd imagine he's not far off meeting said person who maybe won't suck it up and gives him more than a few slaps in a bid to recover their money. Then as you say, they'll probably get sent to chokey instead. It's all pretty grim.

I think it's very telling that Rocky Road don't have a phone number listed on their website/socials isn't it? Whilst this clown remains the UK distributor and continues to price gouge us I won't buy another Tech 21 product ever again. The Dug amp and XB driver both having an almost 100% mark up from the US price are prime examples. In case anyone doubts that, here we go. Dug Amp - $1800 (£1300). £2500. XB Driver - $500 (£380). £610. The fact that servicing seems to be non existant does seem to take the biscuit.